Mass. lawmaker, alleged assailant reach agreement

AP , Associated Press

May. 2, 201311:48 AM ET

FALL RIVER, Mass. (AP) — A state lawmaker and a man accused of assaulting him reached an agreement Wednesday, and no criminal complaint will be issued even though a clerk magistrate found probable cause to bring charges.

The deal between state Rep. Christopher Markey and David Oliveira apparently closes the case.

Markey, D-Dartmouth, told police he was using his cellphone outside a Dartmouth school on March 9 while one of his children attended a basketball clinic inside. He said Oliveira shoved him into a wall, sending him to the hospital with a collapsed lung and sore ribs.

Police said the altercation may have been sparked by Oliveira's failure to land a state job. Markey said Oliveira blamed him.

Neither man would discuss terms of the agreement, but Markey told The Standard-Times (http://bit.ly/120gdEH ) he was "very satisfied" with the outcome.

"It's important for myself and Mr. Oliveira to move on from this," Markey said.

Markey said the criminal matter was "left open" but added he does not expect a complaint to be issued.

The clerk said he found probable cause on a charge of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon with serious bodily injury during a closed hearing in which he heard from Markey and Oliveira and the latter's attorney, Frank Camera.

Oliveira, an attorney himself, said that while pleased with the resolution, he was disappointed that the dispute became "a public spectacle."

FALL RIVER, Mass. (AP) — A state lawmaker and a man accused of assaulting him reached an agreement Wednesday, and no criminal complaint will be issued even though a clerk magistrate found probable cause to bring charges.